Last week, I went to a drive-up window of one of the large, national drug store chains. I have asthma, and I needed to get the prescription for my inhaler renewed.

As I was waiting for my turn in the drive-up lane, I was in a very good mood. It was sunny outside. I had finished my homily for Sunday, and things were going well overall.

When it was my turn to pull up to the pickup window, I gave my name and birthdate, and I informed the pharmacy technician that I was there to pick up a prescription.

A very nice gentleman behind the window found the prescription and took my money, and then it seemed I was forgotten, as no one returned to the window for about 10 minutes. Suffering from the sin of impatience, I simply drove away.

I returned several days later, and when I asked for the inhaler, I was told that there was no physician order in their system. I explained how I was sure that there was, in fact, a prescription for my inhaler in their system, and I also explained how I had paid for it already three days earlier and had not even received my change yet. I then voiced my frustration with the situation that had happened, and how my impatience caused me to drive away without my prescription or my change. The staff stated, “Sorry, but there is no record of any of that.” I then bit my tongue and simply walked away.

About an hour later, I received a call that they found the filled prescription, and they also had my change from what I paid several days earlier. Trying to keep my cool, I simply said that I was embarrassed when I stopped in the store earlier. It was embarrassing when the clerk said she had no filled order, nor any proof that I had paid for the order. I made sure that the person talking to me knew of the embarrassment I suffered as I was made to feel like I was trying to get a drug without payment or a prescription.

The clerk apologized for everything that had happened. I then said, in a calm tone, that I appreciated the follow-up call, and I added that l would never return to their store again. I told them to cancel my prescription, and I said that would get it filled elsewhere. I told them to take the money that I had given them and buy everyone lunch or a snack, and then remember to try not to embarrass other older men in any similar situations in the future.

When I calmed down later, I kept hearing a voice inside saying, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Please do better than me in situations such as these. I will try to do so next time. It is what God expects of each of us.

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek